I was in the car listening to this CD i burned and I felt like this song deserved some recognition today...
[Intro (Nas):] Yo, I wonder if Langston Hughes and Alex Haley got blazed before they told stories I'm get blazed before I tell y'all stories I saw on TV today, this man lost his son, his son died So he had him cremated, took his ashes, and then made it to a Diamond ring Now he watches his son shine everyday I just thought about that, while I sit here ashing in this ash tray, yeah [Verse 1 (Nas):] The makin' of a mad band Intricate stories of DeVante Swing Ava Gardner, the crashin' of James Dean Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James and it goes.. Prince wanted Alexander O'Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome But Alex was puttin' coke in his nose, nigga whylin' Could be a myth but I swear that the source was close, Phyllis Hyman killed herself, it was crazy, mommy was bad they say Donny Hathaway free fall from a balcony, he swings [Hook (Nas):] As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray I could see my whole life fly past me Did I... did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy? And will the money and fame out last me? The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray Will I see my whole life fly past me? I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy? Did I?.. Anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me? [Verse 2 (Nas):] Sam trusted Womack with his main lady He tossin' in the grave, like, "This is how you repay me?" A change gon' come, wish you didn't trust me so much Marvin said "No mountain's high enough, fly stuff" David Ruffin was punching Tammi Terrell, gave her concussions While the Funk Brothers was layin' down the percussion When Flo from the Supremes died, Diana Ross cried Many people said that she was laughin' inside [Hook (Nas)] [Verse 3 (Nas):] John F. Kennedy's, enemies dealt with treachery It interests me, Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals She's what a temptress be The death of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington Someone is sabotaging them Watch out for the traps Larry Troutman killed his brother Roger Troutman Then he killed himself, that's the end of Zapp And I wouldn't change a thing, mistakes of the greats This is what came from their pain From their hurt we gain, an unfair exchange [Hook (Nas)] [Outro (Nas, over the hook):] I could smell old bogey cigars Laureen Bacall perfumes, smelling just as sweet, ha-ha Me and my wife K, flying in a drop-top like Ruby and Ossie Davis baby Knaw'mean? Yo, man. I get smoked out, and start thinkin' about Hattie McDaniel's got a Oscar, for playin' Mammy in 'Gone With The Wind' And she didn't get allowed, wasn't even allowed to go to the premiere Could you believe that? Couldn't go to premiers to her joint Tssk. Man, you know they were strong back then man Blunt from my ash tray, nothin' gon' to live past me, yeah, yeah, yeah
